§ 2. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Minister of Labour how many 1963 school leavers are still without jobs in the North-East; what percentage this represents; and what further action is being taken to improve the position.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. J. B. Godber)On 14th October, 287 or 3 per cent, of the Easter leavers and 2,138 or 10-3 per cent, of the summer leavers in the North-East were still registered for first employment. The measures which the Government have already taken and the further developments outlined in the White Paper on the North-East are designed to increase employment opportunities for young people as well as for adults. The Youth Em- 600 ployment Service will continue to do all it can to help the boys and girls find suitable employment as soon as possible.
§ Mr. WilliamsI welcome the White Paper on the North-East, but will my right hon. Friend understand thatit is of no immediate assistance towards solving this desperate human problem? Will he take some positive action to bring together the leaders of the trade unions and the leaders of managements to see whether additional apprenticeships can be made available to employ some of these young people?
§ Mr. GodberI agree that this is a serious problem, especially in this area, and I have been giving the matter very earnest consideration in order to see what improvements we can make. I will certainly take note of the suggestions which my hon. Friend has put forward.
§ Dr. BrayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the publication of the White Paper on the North-East it has been criticised by prominent industrialists on Tees-side? Is he aware that Sir John Wrightson, chairman of Head Wrightson, has said that insufficient emphasis has been placed on thr—
§ Mr. SpeakerThis appears to be a verbatim quotation from something, in which case it is out of order. Can the hon. Member paraphrase it?
§ Dr. BrayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has been said by the chairman of the Billingham Division of I.C.I. that immediate steps must be taken for the provision of employment particularly for young people within the area?
§ Mr. GodberI was not aware of the points to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention. I will certainly look at them. I am particularly concerned about this matter, and I shall welcome help from industrialists and others in trying to solve it.
3. Mr. P. Williams asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the progress of retraining schemes in the North-East.
§ Mr. GodberIn September one new Government training centre providing about 100 training places was opened at Tursdale near Durham. I plan to open 601 another one next year at Billingham, providing some 200 training places and to extend the centre at Felling—Newcastle—from about 100 places to 400.
§ Mr. WilliamsWill my right hon. Friend accept the thanks of young people in the North-East for these improvements, but will he recognise that they do not go anything like far enough?
§ Mr. GodberI am grateful for that expression of thanks, and I shall endeavour to do better.
§ Mr. FernyhoughDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that at the pace at which he is dealing with the problem some of these young people will be dead and buried before they have been found jobs? The provision of two training centres is totally inadequate for the size of the problem. What is the Minister going to do to try to tackle it?
§ Mr. GodberI do not accept those strictures. I have indicated my concern about the matter, and I want to see what more can be done. The training centres are more for adults than for youths. It is in the youth section that I am trying to find other ways to help.